Asbestos Pipe Insulation & Lagging Removal Cost Guide for 2024

What’s included in the cost and what you would expect to pay for the removal of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging.

Asbestos Pipe Insulation & Lagging Removal Cost Guide for 2024 1In this article you will find everything you need to know about the cost and what you would expect to pay for the removal of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging. There are many types of asbestos insulation, however we are going to concentrate on the of removal of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging. You will find a price list which will help you to work out the costs you’re likely to encounter. The cost of asbestos pipe insulation will vary depending on where it is located. To help you further we will detail the various locations with the differences in costs. These are areas such as loft voids, boiler rooms and underfloor ducts. Each one of these locations has specific requirements that can make the price of asbestos removal differ greatly.

This is a guide and is designed to give you an idea of cost. Pipework comes in various diameters and weights and this can significantly affect the cost of asbestos removal. For the purposes of this guide, we have assumed on all prices that pipe diameter does not exceed 150mm. Once you have looked at the guide and feel that the asbestos removal will be within your budget you will need to speak to a member of the team to give you a fixed quotation. This quotation will be based on all the details specific to your project.

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0844 800 0801 or request your quote online.

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Each of the following costs for removal of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging is determined by many factors. Below you will find detailed information which will help you understand what cost is relevant to you and why.

Before you view the pricing, structure here is some basic information which will help you in understanding the costs surrounding the removal of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging.

When was asbestos pipe insulation used?

Asbestos pipe insulation and lagging has been used in buildings since circa 1900. All the way through to 1985 when this type of asbestos usage was prohibited. Asbestos in other forms was continued to be used up until 2000. If you have a building or structure which was built before the year 1985 then there is a probability that it will contain or did contain asbestos pipe insulation or lagging.

Do I need an asbestos survey?

Yes. Prior to the safe removal and disposal of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging you must identify the asbestos which is present. A survey will also identify its extent and exact locations. This allows the asbestos removal contractor to prepare the required risk assessments to ensure safe removal of the asbestos materials.

Does the type of asbestos pipe insulation matter?

Yes, the type of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging can affect the cost. Asbestos pipe insulation, sometimes called lagging mainly comes in two varieties. Hand applied and sectional. Each one of these asbestos pipe insulations and lagging although equally as hazardous were applied to the pipework in different ways.

  • Hand applied asbestos pipe insulation or lagging was as its name would suggest applied by hand. The asbestos fibre was mechanically or hand mixed with other products to form a plaster type paste mixture. This was then applied by hand onto the surface of the pipework. The removal of hand applied asbestos insulation is far harder and more time consuming than sectional insulation. Therefore is usually more expensive to remove.
  • Sectional asbestos pipe insulation or lagging was preformed asbestos insulation that was factory made and ready to place onto the surfaces of the pipework.

It is very common to find a mixture of both types of asbestos insulation and lagging. In many cases where sectional asbestos insulation has been used then hand applied asbestos lagging was used for the harder to lag areas of the pipework such as bends and flanges.

Asbestos pipe insulation and lagging in its hand applied or sectional form requires the same control measures for safe and effective removal. These control measures are required by law. Only an HSE licensed asbestos removal contractor is legally allowed to undertake removal of these types of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging.

Asbestos pipe insulation and lagging may contain one or a mixture of all the six asbestos fibre types. The risk and asbestos hazard is the same no matter the asbestos fibre type or mix.

What if there is only asbestos insulation debris to the pipework?

It is common within many buildings to find pipework in various locations which have asbestos insulation debris or remnants from previous asbestos removal operations.

It is worthy of note that the asbestos removal industry has undergone significant changes over the last 50 years in terms of asbestos removal techniques and quality. Therefore, it is common to find asbestos insulation debris and remnants to pipework and other surfaces, sometimes beneath newer non asbestos insulation.

Asbestos insulation debris and remnant removal has a very different approach and the cost for this type of asbestos removal is different. For more information and cost details on this type of asbestos removal look at our article on asbestos insulation debris removal techniques and cost.

Are there things that affect price when removing asbestos pipe insulation?

As well as the actual removal and disposal of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging there is all the setting up to consider. All these things have an impact on the cost of the removal and disposal. In our pricing section we have assumed that all the following will need to be included within the cost. However, these may differ from site to site. The following are a selection of the main things to consider which may influence the price you pay.

Decontamination Facilities

As the risk from asbestos is high when removing insulation and lagging it is a legal requirement that appropriate decontamination facilities are readily available for the duration of the project. These decontamination facilities will be in the form of a decontamination unit (DCU) which will be supplied by the asbestos removal contractor.

Isolation & Purging

Prior to undertaking asbestos insulation and lagging removal from pipework it may be necessary for the pipework and associated services to be isolated and or purged of their contents. This is a standard safety precaution and may be completed by the asbestos removal contractor or another competent person.

Electric and Water

To enable the asbestos insulation removal to take place the contractor will need an adequate supply of electric and water for the duration of the project. Some sites require external power and water supplies through generators and water bowsers.

Welfare

In addition to the DCU the contractor will require sufficient on-site welfare facilities for the duration of the project. Although these can be found at many sites it is sometimes easier and safer for the asbestos removal contractor to provide their own.

Enclosure

In nearly all cases of asbestos insulation and lagging removal it will be a legal requirement to ensure the working area is placed within a controlled and enclosed area. This is an airtight enclosure which the asbestos removal contractor builds utilising some of the buildings structure along with heavy duty polythene, tape, and timber. The enclosure is required to have a set of bag locks for entry and exit and a set of waste bag locks for asbestos insulation waste to be removed and appropriately disposed of.

The enclosure must be built to a high quality and have appropriate air extraction equipment installed.

Does the way the asbestos insulation is removed affect cost?

Yes. There are two main methods of safely removing asbestos pipe insulation and lagging.

1. Injection method

The most common method of asbestos insulation and lagging removal is the injection method. In brief the asbestos insulation is wrapped in cling film. This is to prevent fluid from the injection technique creating an asbestos slurry.

A set of specialist injection needles are then placed into the asbestos insulation. The needles have the capability of injecting fluid into the asbestos insulation. The placement of these needles is very important, and they must be placed in specific locations throughout the surface of the asbestos insulation to ensure an even application of fluid is achieved.

Each needle has a valve which regulates the amount of fluid being injected. This is a slow process as too much fluid too quickly will create an asbestos risk by creating slurry and potentially breaking down the asbestos in an uncontrolled fashion.

Once all the needles have been placed and the valves set an injection machine is then used to inject the asbestos insulation with an appropriate asbestos fibre suppressant fluid. The injection proceeds for many hours. The asbestos insulation is regularly checked to ensure that the fluid is achieving a good consistent wetting of the material from its surface right through to the surface of the pipe. Once the injection has been completed the asbestos insulation can then be carefully removed using hand tools and carefully bagging ready for appropriate disposal.

On completion of the asbestos insulation injection and removal the surface of the pipework must then be cleaned in detail to ensure no asbestos insulation debris or surface remnants remain.

2. Wrap and cut method

If you have pipe work which is insulated with asbestos and that pipework is not going to be used or is due for replacement, then it can be a more cost-effective solution to remove the pipework completely.

The technique for this is known as wrap and cut. The basics behind this technique are to fully wrap the asbestos insulation and lagging including the pipework with heave duty polythene. This provides an airtight seal around the asbestos insulation which prevents damage and reduces the asbestos risk.

This can only be undertaken where there are natural breaks in the asbestos insulation providing areas where the pipework can be cut without disturbing asbestos insulation. The length of the wrapped section to be cut out must be manageable. Once the pipe and the asbestos insulation is wrapped then careful cutting of the pipework using reciprocating saws is undertaken. The whole wrapped section of pipe and asbestos insulation is then appropriately disposed of.

The downside of this option is the weight of the waste as the pipework must also be disposed of along with the asbestos. Asbestos waste is expensive and is based on its weight for pricing purposes.

Does the location of asbestos insulated pipes affect cost?

Yes. The location of asbestos insulated pipes will affect cost. Where pipework is in hard to reach or hard to access areas there will be additional costs to ensure safe access for the asbestos removal operations to be carried out effectively and safely.

Under floor ducts require specialist training and set up due to the confined space nature of the area. It is essential that relevant safety equipment be used which will include confined space rescue equipment.

Loft and ceiling voids can also be considered a confined space working area and have an additional access challenge due to height. This must be considered and effectively managed.

Do I need asbestos air monitoring and testing during the removal of insulation?

The only legal requirement for testing when removing asbestos pipe insulation and lagging is the statutory 4 stage clearance procedure. This is a process which must be undertaken by an independent UKAS accredited consultant on completion of the asbestos removal works. This ensures that the works have been completed to a satisfactory standard and that the area is safe for normal reoccupation.

Additional air testing although not a legal requirement is sometimes considered and recommended dependent on the site and individual circumstances. This additional air monitoring can be used to provide data on the effectiveness of control measures being used for the asbestos insulation removal.

Cost of removal of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging from a boiler room. These costs are based on the following assumptions:

  • The removal contractor is responsible for all set up costs.
  • Pipework diameter does not exceed 150mm
  • There is good access to the area being worked on
  • There is no asbestos insulated boilers or tanks
  • There is no asbestos insulation to other surfaces other than pipework
  • The asbestos insulation is a mixture of hand applied and sectional
  • Statutory 4 stage clearance testing and air monitoring is included
Boiler Room:
Asbestos Pipe Insulation Removal:
Wrap & Cut Method:Injection Method:
Total Length – 10 to 20 linear metres£165 per Lm£220 per Lm
Total Length – 21 to 50 linear metres£148 per Lm£198 per Lm
Total Length – 51 to 100 linear metres£140 per Lm£187 per Lm
Total Length – 100 to 200 linear metres£132 per Lm£176 per Lm
Total Length – 200 to 300 linear metres £123 per Lm£165 per Lm

Cost of removal of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging from underfloor ducts. These costs are based on the following assumptions:

  • The removal contractor is responsible for all set up costs.
  • Pipework diameter does not exceed 150mm
  • There is good access to the area being worked on
  • There is no asbestos insulated boilers or tanks
  • There is no asbestos insulation to other surfaces other than pipework
  • The asbestos insulation is a mixture of hand applied and sectional
  • Statutory 4 stage clearance testing and air monitoring is included
Under Floor Ducts:
Asbestos Pipe Insulation Removal:
Wrap & Cut Method:Injection Method:
Total Length – 10 to 20 linear metres£185 per Lm£253 per Lm
Total Length – 20 to 50 linear metres£170 per Lm£227 per Lm
Total Length – 50 to 100 linear metres£161 per Lm£215 per Lm
Total Length – 100 to 200 linear metres£151 per Lm£202 per Lm
Total Length – 200 to 300 linear metres£140 per Lm£189 per Lm

Cost of removal of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging from loft and ceiling voids. These costs are based on the following assumptions:

  • The removal contractor is responsible for all set up costs.
  • Pipework diameter does not exceed 150mm
  • There is good access to the area being worked on
  • There is no asbestos insulated boilers or tanks
  • There is no asbestos insulation to other surfaces other than pipework
  • The asbestos insulation is a mixture of hand applied and sectional
  • Statutory 4 stage clearance testing and air monitoring is included
Loft & Ceiling Voids:
Asbestos Pipe Insulation Removal:
Wrap & Cut Method:Injection Method:
Total Length – 10 to 20 linear metres£175 per Lm£240 per Lm
Total Length – 20 to 50 linear metres£160 per Lm£216 per Lm
Total Length – 50 to 100 linear metres£153 per Lm£204 per Lm
Total Length – 100 to 200 linear metres£144 per Lm£192 per Lm
Total Length – 200 to 300 linear metres£133 per Lm£180 per Lm

The key points of asbestos pipe insulation and lagging removal

Here are all the basics you need to remember and consider when looking for costs if you have a project that will require asbestos pipe insulation and lagging removal.

You must have:

  • A fully HSE licensed and insured asbestos removal contractor.
  • Good and safe access to the working area.
  • A fully enclosed working area.
  • A full decontamination unit and welfare facilities
  • Isolation and or purging of pipework before work starts.
  • Asbestos removal techniques in line with current legislation. Injection or wrap and cut.
  • Full and appropriate disposal of asbestos waste.
  • A full 4 stage clearance procedure by a UKAS accredited consultant.

Additional Resources About Asbestos Costs

For more information about asbestos removal, the types of removals, and costs see our growing resource of removal related information.

If you're looking for general asbestos removal information, then take a look at our asbestos removal service page.

Disclaimer: Any prices outlined within these cost guides may vary from time to time dependant upon market fluctuations or project complexities. Always seek a specific price and quotation for your particular requirements. These costs are for guidance purposes only.

Providing a Nationwide Service From Our Strategically Placed Offices Throughout the UK

For a fast & free asbestos quote call
0844 800 0801 or request your quote online.

Asbestos Pipe Insulation & Lagging Removal Cost Guide for 2024 2

Written by Jess Scott

Jess Scott has been an all-round asbestos consultant since 1996. That’s nearly 3 decades of asbestos knowledge. He spends his time sharing that knowledge with the team at Oracle and with their clients. Jess's goal is, and always has been, to use my expertise in helping people to comply with the law. This legal compliance ultimately helps to protect everyone from the harmful effects of asbestos. Jess has acted as an asbestos expert witness in legal cases and is involved in many asbestos educational activities throughout the UK.